Ever heard someone say, “This coin won’t rise, the whales are eating it!”? Well, the truth is, we are. This is crypto trading. We actively trade, take profits, and grow our portfolios. There’s nothing “evil” about it—that’s why we’re all here.
If you’re interested in learning how we do it, stick around. I’ll give you a simple strategy to help you trade like a whale.
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First, What Is DCA?
For this guide, I’ll assume you already know what Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) is, so I won’t cover the basics. Instead, let’s focus on the common mistakes and how to avoid them.
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1. Spreads That Are Too Low
In DCA, completing more "safety trades" generally leads to higher profits. However, what happens if you set your buy orders with a spread that’s too low (e.g., 0.2%) but don’t have enough safety trades available?
You’ll be stuck waiting, unable to place more trades, which means no profits. Worse, you might panic if the coin doesn’t rebound soon enough.
How to Fix This
Assess the coin’s volatility. Check a high-volatility day to see the percentage difference between the highest high and the lowest low.
Adjust your DCA strategy based on this volatility. For example:
If the coin’s volatility is 20%, and you have a small budget (e.g., $100), set 10 safety trades at a 2% spread instead of trying for 100 trades at a 0.2% spread.
If you have more capital, you can afford smaller spreads and more safety trades.
By doing this, you increase your chances of staying active in the market and reduce the risk of getting stuck.
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2. Lack of Patience
This one is about mindset. Whales are patient. We don’t panic over a 1–10% temporary loss because we know profits will come eventually. Emotional traders, on the other hand, tend to panic-sell or FOMO into bad trades.
How to Fix This
Work on your emotional discipline.
Practice meditation, take breaks, or simply step away when the market is overwhelmingly red.
Remember: trading is a marathon, not a sprint. Staying calm and objective is a key to success.
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3. Greedy Take-Profit Targets
Sure, everyone wants to maximize their gains, but setting overly ambitious take-profit targets (e.g., 5–10%) can backfire. If those targets aren’t met, you might panic and sell at a loss.
How to Fix This
Set realistic take-profit levels. For example:
A target of 1–1.5% is manageable and more likely to get filled.
Personally, I use a 1.2% target with a 0.2% trailing stop to capture additional upside if the coin continues to rise.
Don’t underestimate the power of small, consistent gains. Every little profit adds up over time.
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Final Thoughts
That’s it for now! Remember, DCA is a powerful strategy when used correctly, but discipline and patience are just as important as the technical side.
Good luck with your trades—see you at the top!